Coupler and yoke connection



March 7, 193s. w A GEIGR 1,900-54 9 GOUPLER AND 'YoKE CONNECTION FiledNov. 2, 1931 Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. GEIGER, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR '.'IO W. H. MINER, INC., OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AVCORPORATION OF DELAWARE coUrLnR AND Yoxn CONNECTIONApplication filed 'November 2, 1931. SerialNoL 572,615. *i

ThisV invention relates to improvements in coupler and yoke connections.

One object of the invention isto provide ina coupler and yoke connectionsimple and eflicient means for .attaching the shouldered butt of acoupler shank to the yoke including a locking block or plate havingshouldered engagement with both the yoke and coupler butt, together withmeans for effectively locking the block or plate against accidentalremoval or loss.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connection of thecharacter described in the preceding paragraph, wherein the means forlocking the block against removal comprises interlocking devices on saidblock and the front follower of the railway draft rigging.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sideelevational view of a yoke and the butt portion of a coupler shank,illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. y Figure 2 is ahorizontal, longitudinal sectional view, partly broken away,corresponding substantially to the line 2 2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 isaVview similar to Figure 2, illustrating another embodiment of theinvention. Figure 4f is a transverse, vertical sectional view,corresponding substantially to the line 4--4 of Figure 3, showing onlythe bottom arm of the yoke, the lower port-ion of the front follower ofthe draft rigging, and my improved locking block and retaining means inconnection therewith. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 partlybroken away at the forward end, illustrating still another embodiment ofthe invention. And Figure 6 is a transverse, vertical sectional view,corresponding substantially to the line 6 6 of Figure 5, showing onlythe bottoni arm of the yoke, the bottom portion of the front follower ofthe railway draft rigging, and my improved locking and retaining meansin connection therewith.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFigures 1 and 2,v my improved construction comprises broadly a yoke A; alocking block B; and a front follower C having retaining means thereonfor holding the locking block against lateral displacement. n

The yoke A. has top `and bottomspaced, horizontally disposed arms 10 and11 connected at their rear ends by a vertical end section 12r formedintegral with said arms. The forward portion of the bottom arm 11 isdownwardlyoffset with respect to said arm, as indicated at 13, saidloffset section being connected to the bottom arm 11 b means of aninclined portion 14; The section 13 of the bottom arm 11 extendsforwardly beyond the front end ofthe top arm 10, as clearly shown inFigure 1, and the forward ends of said arms are connected by spaced sidewebs 15-15. The webs 15-15 are of the cross-section shown in Figure 2,

the inner surfaces of the same being flared forwardly and outwardly soas to accommodate the shank of the coupler for lateralmovement. Y rlheupper sections of the webs 15-15 are inclined forwardly and downwardlyand are connected to the section 13 of the bottom arm of the yoke bymeans of shortvertical sections 16-16. The rear edge portions of thevertical sections 16-16 provide transverse abutment faces 17-17 for thelocking block B. v Y.

The lockimgblockl B is in the form of a platelike member having atransverse, upwardly extending flange 18 at the outer end thereof. Theflange 18 abuts the shoulders provided bythe faces 17-17 of the webmembers15-15- At the inner end, the platelike section of the lockingblock B is narrowed down to provide a rearwardlycxtending tongue 19 fora purpose hereinafter described.- The locking block B is adapted to haveshouldered engagement with the butt of the coupler, which is indicatedbyv 20. As clearly shown in Fig-ure 1,the butt portion coupler 20 hastop and bottom transverse shoulders 21-21 at the forwardside thereof,the bottom shoulder being engaged with the flange 18 of the lockingblock B. The upper arm 1() of the yoke is provided with .a transverseinterior shoulder 22 in alignment with Lthe inner'face of the flange 18of the block of the B, said shoulder 22 engaging the top shoulder 21 ofthe butt of the coupler 20.

The front follower C, which cooperates with the shock absorbingmechanism of the railway draft rigging, is disposed within the yoke Aand has a pair of forwardly projecting spaced lingers or arms 23-23 atthe bottom thereof. The arms 23-23 slidingly receive the tongue 19 ofthe locking block B therebetween. As shown in Figure 1, the olfsetsection of the arm 11 is of such a length as to permit the necessaryrearward movement ofthe follower with respect to the yoke, the inclinedsection le of said bot-tom arm being provided with spaced ribs 2li- 211,which present transverse abutment shoulders 25-25 at the forward endsthereof, which clear the follower C when in its innermost position. Aswill be evident, the locking block is held against lateral displacementwith respect to the yoke by means of the follower C, the follower Cbeing held against lateral movement to any appreciable extent by beingconfined between the draft sills of the railway draft rigging, saiddraft sills being indicated kby 26-26 in Figure 2. As shown in dottedlines in said ligure, the draft sills-are provided with the usual frontstop lugs 27-27 with which the follower C cooperates.

In assembling the coupler with the yoke, the butt of the coupler isentered between the arms of the yoke through the forward end thereof andthe transverse upper shoulder thereof brought in alignmentwith theshoulder 22 of the top arm of the yoke. The coupler is then lifted sothat the retaining block may be inserted between the bottom arm of theyoke and the coupler butt. The block is then inserted laterally of theyoke and the flange 18 thereof engaged with the shoulders 17-1? of thewebs 15-15 of the yoke and also with the lower shoulder 21 ofthe couplerbutt. The follower C is then placed within the yoke rearwardly of thetongue 19 of the locking block B, the fingers 23-23 of the follower C inthis position clearing said tongue. The follower is then disposed sothat the lingers 3-23 will engage on opposite sides of the tongue 19 ofthe locking block B. rlhe follower C is then moved forwardly to theposition shown in Figures 1 and 2, where the iingers thereof engage thetongue -19 at opposite sides. Then the coupler, together with the yokeand the other parts of the mechanism, is placed between the draftsills,the follower C will be held against any substantial lateralmovement, thereby preventing lateral disengagement of the block B fromthe yoke A.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures3 and 4, my improved construction comprises a yoke D; a locking block E;and a front follower F. The yoke is of substantially the same design asthe yoke A hereinbefore described and has spaced sidev webs L15-115connecting the top and bottom arms at the forward ends thereof, whichwebs present transverse abutment faces 117-117 at their rear sidesadapted to be engaged by the locking block E to hold the latter againstforward movement with respect to the yoke. The locking block E has anupstanding transverse flange 118 at the forward end, similar to theflange 18 referred to in con nection with Figures 1 and 2. rlheplatelike portion of the locking block E is tapered rearwardly, as shownin Figure 3, and has a tongue member 119 rearwardly extending therefrom.The front follower, which is inl dicated by F, has a pair of depending,laterallyspaced lugs 12S-123, which embrace the tongue 119 of the blockE at opposite ends. 'I' he lugs 12B-12B are of such a length as toextend downwardly beyond the locking block E and also embrace oppositesides of the bottom arm 111 of the yoke D.

It will be evident that when the parts shown in 'Figures 3 and i areassembled the follower will hold the locking block E against lateraldisplacement by means of the embracing lugs 12S-123. fis these lugs alsoembrace opposite sides of the bottom arm of the yoke, the follower willbe held against lateral' displacement with vrespect to the yoke. Thusmea-ns in addition to the sills is provided for preventing anyappreciable lateral displace- *l ment of the follower F.

Referring next to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures5 and 6, the

Y yoke is indicated by G, the locking block by H, and the front followerby J. ln this case, the locking lblock H is provided with a pair ofrearwardly extending spaced arms 15015O providing a guide slot 151therebetween. The follower J is provided with a central depending lug152, which slidably engages within lthe slot 151, thereby holding theblock H against lateral displacement with respect to the follower J.nasmucli as the follower J is held against any appreciable lateraldisplacement by the draft sills, the locking block is held againstlateral displacement with respect to the yoke by means of the followerd. As in the foims of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, and 3 and4l, the locking block El of Figures 5 and 6 is provided with atransverse flange at the forward end thereof, which engages the lowershoulder of the coupler butt. The forward end of the locking block Hengages the shoulders provided by the side webs at the forward end ofthe yoke in a manner similar to the blocks B and E hereinbeforedescribed, thereby holding the locking block against outward movementwith respect to the yoke.

I have herein shown and described what l now consider the preferredmanner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrativeand I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within thescope of the claims appended hereto.

ico

I claim:

l. In a coupler and yoke connection including a. coupler having a shankprovided with a shouldered butt, the combination with a yoke having topand bottom spaced arms connected at their inner ends by a vertical endsection, and connected at their outer ends by spaced vertical sidewalls, the bottom arm of the yoke having a transverse abutment shoulder;ofalockingblockseated on said bottom arm and having its front endabutting said shoulder of the arm, said block having a transverseshoulder adapted to engage the lower .shoulder of the Coupler butt, saidtop arm having an interior shoulder engaging the top shoulder of thecoupler butt; anda front follower within the yoke, said front followerand locking block having interengaging means thereon holding said blockagainst lateral displacement with respect to said follower.

2. In a coupler and yoke connection including a coupler having a shankprovided with a shouldered butt, the combination with a yoke having topand bottom arms connected at their rear ends by a vertical end memberand having spaced connecting side walls at their front ends adapted toreceive the coupler shank therebetween, said bottom arm having atransverse abutment shoulder; of means on the yoke abutting the shoulderof the coupler butt for connecting the coupler to the yoke, said meansincluding a locking block seated on said bottom arm, said locking blockabutting said transverse shoulder of the bottom arm of the yoke andbeing held thereby against forward movement with lrespect to the yoke;and a. front follower within the yoke, said front follower and blockhaving shouldered engagement onfaces extending lengthwise of the yoke tohold said block against lateral movement with respect to the follower.

3. In a coupler and yoke connection includa coupler having a shankprovided with a shouldered butt, the combination with a yoke having topand bottom arms connected at their rear ends by a` vertical end memberand having spaced connecting side walls at their front ends a dapted toreceive the coupler shank therebetween, said bottom arm having atransverse abutment shoulder; of a locking block seated on said bottomarm, said locking block abutting said transverse shoulder of the bottomarm of the yoke and being held thereby against forward movement withrespect to the yoke, said block supporting the coupler bntt and havingshouldered engagement therewith, said butt being held against verticaldisplacement between the block and the top arm of the yoke; and a frontfollower within the yoke, said fro-nt follower and locking block havinginterengaging tongue and groove formations extending lengthwise of theyoke to hold said block 'against lateral displacementV with respect tothe front follower.

4. In a coupler and yoke connection including a coupler having a shankprovided with a shouldered butt, the combination `with ya respect to theyoke, said block having shoul` dered engagement with the bottom'shoulder of the coupler butt, said block having an upper supportingsurface for the coupler butt, said surface `being spaced from'said-toparm of the yoke a distance corresponding sub- Cil stantially to. theheight of saidbutt of the Y coupler' shank; and a front Vfollower withinthe yoke, said front 'follower having apair of laterally spaced fingersembracing the locking block on opposite sides to hold said block againstlateral displacement with respect to said front follower. Y

` 5. In a coupler and yoke connection including a coupler havinga shankprovided with a shouldered butt, thecombination with a yoke having topand bottom' arms connected atV their rear ends by a vertical end memberand having spaced connecting side walls at their` front ends adapted-toreceive the coupler shank therebetween, said bottom arm v Vhaving atransversev abutment shoulder; ofa

locking block seated on said bottom arm, said locking block abuttingsaid transverse shoulder of vthe bottom arm of the yoke and being r"held thereby against forward movement with respect to the yoke, saidblock having an upstanding front rib spaced fromthe top arm of the yokea distance less than the overall height of the coupler butt, said ribengaging the front face of the bottom of said butt; and a front followerwithin the yoke, said locking block having a rearwardly extendingktongue and said front follower having a pair of forwardly extending,laterally spaced fingers embracing said tongue and slidingly receivingthe same therebetween to hold said block against lateral displacementwith respect to said front follower. l

6. In a coupler and yoke connectionincluding a coupler having a shankprovided with a shouldered butt, the combination with a yoke having topand bottom arms, connected at their rear ends by a vertical end memberand having spaced connecting side walls at Y their front ends adapted toreceive the coupler shank therebetween, said bottom arm having atransverse abutment shoulder; of a locking block seated on said bottomarm, said locking block abutting said transverse shoulder of the bottomarm of the yoke and being held thereby against forward movement withrespect to the yoke, said block having an upstanding projection spacedfrom the top arm of the yoke a distance less than the overall heightofthe coupler butt and engaging thel n lower shoulder of said butt; anda frontv follower within the yoke, said locking block hav-V ing a pairof rearwardly extending spaced finOfers and said follower having a deendin.' C b D lug slidably engaged between said vfingers to hold saidblock against lateral displacement with respect to the front follower.

' 7.,In a coupler and yoke connection including a coupler having a shankprovided with a shouldered butt, the combination with a yoke having topand bottomarms connected at their rear ends by a vertical end member andhaving spaced connecting side walls at their front ends adapted treceive the coupler shank therebetween, said bottom arm having atransverse abutment shoulder; of means on said yoke having shoulderedengagement with the coupler butt for connecting the coupler to the yoke,said means including a locking block seated on said .bottom arm, saidlocking block abutting said transverse shoulder of the bottom arm of theyoke and being held thereby against forward movement with respect to theyoke; and a front follower within the yoke, said front follower having apair of depending spaced lugs embracing said locking block on oppositesides to hold the block against lateral displacement with respect tosaid follower;

8. In a coupler and yoke connection including a coupler having a shankprovided with a shoulderedbutt, the combination with a yoke having topand bottom arms connected attheir rear ends bya vertical end member andhaving spaced connecting side walls at their front ends adapted toreceive the coupler shank therebetween, said bottom arm havingatransverse abutment shoulder; of means on said yoke having shoulderedengagement with the coupler butt for connecting the coupler to the yoke,said means including a locking block seated Von said bottom arm, saidlocking block abutting said transverse shoulder of the bottom arm of theyoke and being held thereby against forward movement with respect to theyoke; and a front follower within the yoke, said front follower having apair of depending spaced fingers embracing the locking block on oppositesides and also slidably receiving the lower arm of the yoketherebetween, thereby holding the locking block against lateraldisplacement with respect to both the follower and the yoke.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 29th day of October, 1931.

- WILLIAM A.-GEIGER.

